A process evaluation of a community intervention to reduce youth drinking

Aims: To provide a qualitative report of the process of development and implementation of a Dutch community intervention in which retail and social alcohol supply for adolescents was restricted. Insight will be provided into how relevant stakeholders evaluated their role in the process. Methods: Qualitative methods were used to analyze the documents about the action plan, project meeting minutes, data from local media and semi-structured interviews with the most important stakeholders. Interviews were analyzed using Nvivo 9. Results: Stakeholders generally evaluated the development and implementation of the community intervention as reasonably successful. Cooperation between local and external stakeholders was highly appreciated. Failure to implement planned measures was mostly attributed to lack of support from the local authorities and a lack of time. Also, the lack of regular internal communication and media advocacy for enforcement activities was criticized. Conclusions: In order for a community intervention to be successful, a clear intervention focus complemented by high political support and leadership at the local level is needed. Also, formative process evaluation protocols should be incorporated. External stakeholders appeared to be rather crucial in both developing and implementing the intervention.

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